GAME REVIEW: "Cossacks - European Wars": colorful, challenging, educational (11/11/01)

GAME REVIEW

"Cossacks - European Wars": colorful, challenging, educational

Cossacks - European Wars, 16th-18th century historical real-time strategy game, developed by GSC Game World, published by CDV Software Entertainment.

by Jim Krut

I play computer games, even when life says there are chores to do and cares are closing in on me. But if you're fascinated with the idea of commanding 17th century armies, including cavalry, pikemen and artillery in a Ukrainian setting, you'll understand why I want to share with you a few insights about the game "Cossacks - European Wars."

After moving to Gettysburg a few years ago, I played the Gettysburg computer game to see whether different strategy, tactics or other variables could have changed the outcome of that now 138-year-old battle. It's a fascinating way to look at history. Maybe you've dreamed of doing that with Eastern European conflicts.

In recent years there has been Microsoft's "Age of Empires," "Age of Kings" and the "Conquerors" expansion program. These computer games had increasingly tantalizing levels of challenge, historic perspectives, improved graphics and unique national weaponry, warriors and warcraft. They also include historic campaigns such as those of Joan of Arc and Atilla the Hun.

But once I played the downloadable demo of "Cossacks - European Wars," I knew I had to play this game in its fullness. Can you imagine building and controlling Ukrainian fighting units of the 17th and 18th centuries, with up to 8,000 units in play at one time on a computer screen?

Can you envision sending the speedy Sich Kozak cavalry, waving their flashing sabers up hills and through forests to capture an enemy iron mine? Or placing units of pikemen or musketeers in fighting formations such as lines or squares, led by their own commander and drummer?

Play takes place among combat units and peasants from 16 European nations, including Ukraine, Poland and Russia, each with unique national units, buildings, characteristics and fighting abilities. You can randomly or specifically select your nation and opponents, then test how your troops, cavalry, artillery, ships, defensive buildings and economy fare against the opponent.

As your economy grows through mining, growing crops and cutting timber, so, too, can your technology develop. Evolving from the 17th to the 18th century, your fighting units may benefit from improved forging of weapons, better armor and training - all at a cost, of course. Buildings and defenses can become more impervious to attack. You can also enhance crop production.

"Cossacks" is a visually thrilling game. Individual units from grenadiers to musket-bearing Russian sharpshooters show attention to detail, color, movement and reaction. Buildings struck by artillery rounds throw off shrapnel, showing smoke and fire. Near-misses cause clouds of dust and smoke, while an unguarded mine or artillery piece may be captured by an opposing warrior, a guarded mine that is overrun explodes and may kill some of the invaders.

Three-dimensional landscape modeling plays a huge role. From the top of a hill, your units can fire further. Caught in a valley or a canyon, they may be trapped. Infantry or cannon may find their firing range blocked by buildings, hills or geographic features.

The artificial intelligence component of "Cossacks" will probe your defenses, seemingly learning your weak points as it sends enemy units to attack you. You should find it a challenging, real-time simulation that will entertain you for hours on end.

How authentic is the on-screen experience of "Cossacks"?

The game contains five historic campaigns, including the Ukrainian Independence War (1648-1657), a Russian, French and English campaign and a tutorial. There are 10 smaller single-mission scenarios, as well as numerous "death match" battle options. Besides individual play, you can game with up to seven opponents by modem, local area network or the Internet. I haven't ventured that far outside, yet.

Buildings are also unique. There are onion-domed Orthodox churches that differ greatly from English churches or Turkish mosques.

As with any simulation that tries to accomplish so much, there are compromises and shortcomings. You may find both advantages and limitations with your light-cavalry hussar units, for example. While in life they may have carried a sabre, pistols and a short musket, in this game they are limited to a sabre. With time, the outcome of certain confrontations may become predictable.

According to the manual, which covers over 160 pages of historic information and instruction, the game-creation team of GSC developed the game in Ukraine. Knowing that, it seems a little odd the game is available in several languages - including Russian - but not Ukrainian. It is distributed by German publisher CDV.

Although "Cossacks" may run on a lesser machine, be prepared to use at least a Pentium 266 mhz system with 64 megabytes of RAM and 4 megabytes of video cache. The more - the better. It will run on Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME and NT. Retail price is about $44.

Discussion boards linked to the game's official website and some gamers have reported start-up or shut-down problems, probably linked to the CD-ROM copy-protection process www.strategyfirst.com. Indications are that a fix is being built for patch issues, which may be released as an add-on at an additional price. You may also wish to check out http://www.cossacks.heavengames.com.

While a plastic mouse may not fully take the place of clanging steel for medieval re-creationists, "Cossacks" gives you an exciting, strategic adventure with historic drapings. And after several hours of gaming, you may find that your arms aren't bruised, but soreness is creeping into your other quarters. You may also gain a better understanding of the conditions and challenges faced by commanders of the time.

On the hallowed battlefields of your computer screen, there's another world waiting. It's colorful, challenging and educational. It can also be tough to win. "Cossacks" is one of the best real-time strategy games I've found. Pick up a copy and try it for yourself.

P.S. You may also download a demo of the game from the website, but, if you do, encourage your modem to make all possible haste - and pour yourself a favorite beverage while you wait. The game, which has sold thousands of copies in Europe, was released for sale in the United States on March 30.

Canadian Ukrainian Jim Krut, 50-something, is a self-described computer game afficionado. For a younger perspective on the "Cossacks" game, see the UKELODEON section on page 26.

| Home Page |